#38. Already feeling so damn proud and horny.
#38. Already feeling so damn proud and horny.
<Lee Hana>
The trip was so much fun. After the hot springs, we even got massages.
The next day, we toured the temple, ate some food, and made lotus flowers or something? It was fun folding and sticking paper.
End of today's diary.
"Damn......."
"Damn......."
Monday. Course Registration losers Inmok and a class at 9 a.m. on Monday morning.
"You again."
"You again."
Like it was planned, Inmok and Hana faced each other and said it at the same time.
Why~! Of all things~! A 9 a.m. class on Monday and Friday!
No way. My eyes feel heavy. This is..., yeah. That's it. I'll fall asleep less than three minutes into class. And it's prime deep sleep time. That's what Hana thought.
At the same time, Hana made her judgment.
"Inmok."
"......."
His eyes look as hollow as mine—must've done night shifts yesterday. Such a diligent friend. So he'll hear me out.
"Can you do me one favor?"
A little sorry, but still, he'll do it.
"Can you cover for me?"
"Do I sound like a girl? Talking about proxy attendance and shit."
"Aw~, why not. Do it for meee. We're friends, right?"
"Friends only when you need something."
Inmok scratches his head.
He'll do it, right? He'll do it, right? He'll do it, right?
She shoots him puppy-dog eyes.
"Sigh, fine."
"Yesss~! Yay~. Whoa~. I'm off, professor. Thank you soooo much."
"Go already, dude."
She grabs her bag and heads straight to the Manga Club Room behind the library.
She joined recently too. Even as a second-year with the class of '23, she's untouchable to them.
The seniors are chill and don't make a fuss.
The club room is two rooms: one full of bookshelves in the center, and the end room labeled 'Discussion Room'—but.
Distant seniors left a wide sofa and blankets for the underclassmen.
Plop-!
"Fucking heaven. Whoa, this is the best~."
Eyes closed for about 10 seconds? No memory. Passed out instantly. Woke up hungry and checked the time—morning Free Periods all gone.
"My stomach clock this accurate?"
Didn't matter to Hana anyway.
---
2-Star, (Resolved).
- Say thank you when a friend does you a favor.
---
"Heh. Thanks to Inmok. Should I buy him food or something? Heh heh heh."
Deep sleep left her body feeling light as air.
"Inmok~! How'd it go!"
"Did it."
"Yay! As expected! Oi oi! Knew I could count on you!"
She smacks her proud friend Inmok on the back.
"Ow, dude. Where's Do-jin?"
"Do-jin's got morning Free Period."
"Shit, so jealous."
"Right~? Let's eat together. Sis is buying, dude."
Gotta pay him back somehow.
"Tonkatsu set."
"Ugh~, school tonkatsu's so greasy. You sure?"
"Yeah, it's edible."
If he wants it, buy it.
"Or any favors you want? I'll do 'em."
"Nah. You do my favor, now what crazy shit you gonna ask next?"
Crazy favor? It's just friend stuff.
Almost done with lunch when Do-jin joins at the cafeteria.
"Do-jinaang~!"
My eternal love Do-jin spots me, grins wide, and waves. Some girls glance over, but Do-jin wouldn't look at anyone but me.
Same for me!
Hana firmly believed in this eternal love she felt. And she wasn't wrong.
"Hana-ya~."
Do-jin smiles brightly at her greeting and approaches.
"Heard from Hana you covered for her. Thanks, Inmok."
"Euuugh~!"
Both cringe hard at his reaction, unable to hold back grins.
"No one else does favors for me, what can I do~."
Inmok's the only one, even if there are other friends.
Lately, kids have been saying no to favors more and more.
Pretty sure they used to before.
"Anyway, thanks."
"I did it for Hana, why you thanking me?"
"We're a couple."
Inmok twitches his eyebrow and gags dramatically at Do-jin's answer, while Hana clings to Do-jin's arm regardless.
"Ehehe~, my Do-jin's hungry, right? Wanna eat?"
"Nah, had bread earlier."
"Oh? Coffee then?"
She buys Inmok drinks on top of cafeteria food for helping her. Gotta do that much!
§
Thinking back to our school days, college students were like ultimate adults symbolizing youth and all that jazz.
Media images make students dream of romance.
To teens, they're impossibly grown-up societal figures.
But actual college kids don't see it that way. Bodies grown, minds still stuck at teen level—that's college perfectly.
"I'm the communism destroyer on the western front! Hell summoner raining fire from the skies to judge the wicked! (155mm towed howitzer) Baek Jin-hyung!"
Not to be outdone, I declare proudly.
"I'm the guardian of the eastern front, watcher with hundreds of eyes overseeing from wind to trees! (TOD cannon) Gwak In-mok!"
Rumble rumble-!
Intros done, the four-legged horse (wheelbarrow) charges forward fast.
Gripping sturdy shield (trash can lid) and sharpened lance (long broom), we glare.
Thwack-!
Crack-!
Lances clash on shields with a clank! I go oof! and topple.
"Gaaah. Fucking hurts, shiiiit......."
Shock transmits through shield; I tumble on the floor.
"Uhehehe-! I'm the ruler of this turf!"
Jin-hyung throws arms up like he owns the world.
Thud-
"Yo, dude. Lid's busted."
"Huh? Oh. Fucked."
Meaning me and this idiot have teen brains too.
Kids pulling the wheelbarrow look lost on what to do.
Yup. No foresight on consequences, just like teens.
One holy difference between high schoolers and sacred college students?
"Yes, we'll buy a new one. Sorry. Hardware store's right up front, we'll dash over. Yes. Yes. Sorry."
Accountability (forced).
"Wow-. Who'd wanna do that during volunteer work?"
Hana sighs at the unchanging guy squad.
"......."
But damn, they look fun—regret lingers on her face. Wanna ride that too.
But the kids won't let her.
─ Hey. No. You'll really get hurt.
─ What do I tell Do-jin if you do?
Excuses sound legit, so she backs off regretfully, now grumbling as shit hits the fan.
"Sis, hands slowing. Hurry up."
Pouts at Ina's words beside her.
"Why'd you date a guy like that?"
"Hey. That senior pushing the cart? Do-jin oppa."
Yup. Hana's boyfriend and Ina's boyfriend pulling dumbass stunts together.
Freshmen look dazed at seniors' childish crap, can't butt in, so focus quietly on volunteering.
"Kids, eat ice cream first."
For them, hardware store run includes convenience store ice cream haul.
"Ah! Thank you!"
"Loyalty loyalty!"
Hana sneaks in, salutes, grabs two. Dashes to Do-jin—pisses her off somehow.
"Ina-ya, eat this. Tasty."
"Hee~. Yesss."
"Eat two."
"Too full's bad, they say."
Do-jin urgently pulls back in surprise—looks like he really likes Ina from others' view.
He does. No ugly guy hates a pretty girl.
Not that fluffy love, but she bears my kid and rims my ass—who wouldn't love that?
I'm not that heartless.
"Senior, make some quick~."
"Ah~. This? Our kids are done already."
"Wooow~. Senior-nim! Still gotta help!"
Volunteer work: making Recycled Soap. College kids' passion pay makes soap for free distribution to disabled associations, lonely elderly, etc.
Unpaid hard labor, but generous volunteer hours make it worthwhile.
"Hey~! I'm trapped! Open from outside! Won't open inside!"
Jin-hyung yells from afar—went to storage with tools, door shut.
Underclassmen panic; me and classmates cackle.
"Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your beautiful tresses!"
Drama major from another dept spreads arms dramatically.
Jin-hyung snaps irritated.
"Fuck off, moron!"
Just fuels more laughter.
"Why lock it from inside?"
"To trap you."
Volunteer work, but hit quota and you've got tons of free time—prime sweet gig.
Plus, inter-dept mingling builds connections.
"Should be set. Wrap up."
Pop soap from molds, wrap in oil paper, box 'em.
Report to coordinator, confirmed—afternoon now.
Post-volunteer: hit our fave Chinese joint, chat over food, then cafe or more fun for party peeps.
"Me, gimme a straw."
"Hm? That's..."
"Aw~, why not. Tiny favor, right~."
Common Sense Alteration scope widens from big asks to petty ones—small thrill.
"Here."
She takes it, grins sheepish mix of sorry and thanks.
Neither Hana nor Do-jin knows she's sinking deeper into inescapable swamp.
Oh, forgot this.
Hana and Ina family trip was a week ago. Volunteer weekends mostly—no lectures.
Week's short yet long.
Plenty to complete 3-Star—overflowing even.
Monday: input 3-Star. Wednesday: Alteration Rate 100%.
Why slack Thursday-Friday? Duh, busy as fuck. Me, them too—different reasons, but here we are Saturday volunteering together.
Alright! Behold the vicious completed 3-Star hashtag.
---
<#Hashtag Story Registration>
<#Story>
- Due to boyfriend's unique taste, we've only held hands so far.
- Realize need to fulfill boyfriend's unique taste.
- Actively asked friend for boyfriend's sake.
- Happy when boyfriend's happy.
---
Post-load, Hana's profile:
---
<#Lee Hana★★★>
<#Eternal Love> - <#Only Friend> - <#Unique Taste>
---
Unique Taste. Boyfriend. Do-jin has one. I'll define it later—but.
3-Star, (Issue) visible?
Met in high school, 5-year relationship, only held hands? That brutal text?
Erased all shared intimate acts over 5 long years.
Gone: the natural sex between lovers, aka pounding.
Delete lovemaking from couple—what's better than friends? Break up?
Worry not. We'll find answers. Always do.
Veteran players dig it up. AlphaGo cracked by Lee Sedol, not me.
---
1-Star, (Issue), (Method).
- You and boyfriend saw eternal love from first meet.
- Never doubted each other, no matter what.
---
Unique Taste? Whatever, their love's eternal, immortal.
No breakup option for either, ever. Like it never existed.
---
2-Star, (Issue).
- Only friend who does favors for you and boyfriend.
---
Same: no choices. Only me for that Unique Taste favor.
Brutal.
Anyway, back to now: post-volunteer dispersal. Ina's off shopping accessories/clothes with new friends.
Me, Do-jin, Hana left. Stroll to small park bench. Just passersby outside; park empty.
"Yo. Inmok."
Hana calls, orange-dyed long hair swaying.
"What now? Got night shift, gotta prep."
They ignore my gruffness. Hiding fear I'll say no.
Hana grabs Do-jin's hand dead serious. Do-jin matches.
"Listen, okay? No calling it weird."
"Ugh~. No. Definitely weird."
I know what they're asking, react accordingly. They panic visibly.
As time passes, even petty favors get refused more.
Already cafe kids dodging straw asks with excuses—nearly done.
Only favor-doer left: me.
If I refuse, no one even pretends for them.
"Pleeease~."
"Inmok, just once..., do it."
Now Do-jin's begging too. Imagines fallout?
Most pissed, should-kill-me Do-jin holds Hana's hand seriously.
Hana taps his shoulder, takes lead.
"So. In our relationship, only held hands."
"......And?"
I'm dead serious now.
And? Why tell me your relationship shit?—that's my face.
"He has a unique taste...."
SAIMIN HITOZUMA hashtags always vague. Broad category, but unspecified.
So Hana/Do-jin haven't pinned Unique Taste yet.
But no side effects, or not Guidebook-worthy.
This scene: them awkwardly begging me? Guidebook perfect.
Serious yet 2-Star guilt maxed, fumbling.
Hashtag branch point, bridge to next: 3-Star means player time.
"Only held hands dating. Do-jin unique taste. Begging sorry-faced? That's it."
"Huh? You know?"
Heads up, eyes wide. Inmok knows our issue?!
Yup. Know it. I'm crafting it.
"Do-jin, you only get hard watching girlfriend skinship with other guys, right?"
Their eyes bulge huge.
Already feeling so damn proud and horny.